macaroni, maccaroni

& a. [O. Ital. maccaroni a kind of paste meat boiled in broth and dre ed with butter, cheese, and spice ( Florio ); Ital. mac cher on i; cf. Gr. makaria = a me of broth and pearl-barley, a kind of porridge.] IMG:content-0796.png:[blocks in formation] II. Figuratively : 1. A medley, an extravagance, an idle fancy. *2. A droll, a fool. 3. A fop, a dandy, an exquisite. They led the fashion from 1770 to 1775. They were distinguished by the immense knot of artificial hair worn by them, a very small cocked hat, jacket, waistcoat, and small clothes very tight to the body, and a walking-stick ornamented with long ta els. "This fellow would turn rake and macaroni , if he was to stay here a week longer."-Garrick: Ton, i. 1, 4. Pl.: A body of soldiers from Maryland during the War of Independence, so called on account of their showy uniform. *B. As adj .: Foppish, fashionable, dandy, affected. "Ye travel'd tribe, ye macaroni train, Of French friseurs and nosegays justly vain Lend me your hands." Goldsmith: Epilogue , spoken by Mrs. Bulkley . Macaroni.